Footage of unaccompanied migrant children arriving on small boats has been branded the "worst I've ever seen" on GB News. Sue Reid, Special Investigations Editor at the Daily Mail, reacted to the disturbing images, describing the incident as "trafficking" and noting that no one on the boat claimed responsibility for the children.
Disturbing footage described as trafficking
Reid explained that images released yesterday morning finalised a journey she had been documenting with migrants last week, where they were being trafficked "in battalions, families, children, many children in battalions being marched around to the station and then to the beaches." She said the footage was "particularly appalling," adding that she had seen terrible things in her career.
"People were screaming to get on this boat. A baby was crying on the boat," Reid said. "Two girls were moved by the traffickers, hauled off and put in another part of the boat. No parent said, 'Hey, she's mine.' Nothing like that." She continued: "It was inhumane and the worst I've ever, ever seen."
Children arriving at Kent Intake Unit
Reid revealed that 200 children a month are arriving at The Kent Intake Unit, a short-term holding and processing facility operated by the Home Office for people arriving via small boats across the English Channel, including unaccompanied children. She added: "At least 10 per cent of the 1,600 who will have come across this year will have been kids."
Reid clarified that while some migrants are adults posing as children, genuine youngsters are also being "marched" onto boats alongside people traffickers. She said: "The traffickers are the obvious target. But, in my opinion, this is trafficking by others too, or indeed collusion. I really do blame the charities for not stopping this. If you set yourself up as a refugee charity, you jolly well need refugees, don't you? And I'm sorry to be cynical. But it was horrifying, these images."
Recent Channel crossings
Around 263 migrants arrived in the UK last Thursday as Channel crossing attempts continued after a three-week hiatus. Several children were among a large group of people wearing life-jackets as they were brought ashore in Dover, Kent. After three boats successfully crossed, the total number of arrivals for 2026 stood at 21,198, according to Home Office figures.
